José E. Lazo-Vela, División de Bioética, Centro de Investigación Social Avanzada (CISAV), Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro, México
The so-called “science of happiness” has emerged in recent decades as an interdisciplinary field combining psychology, economics, and neuroscience, aimed at measuring, promoting, and standardizing human well-being. However, its global expansion responds to a techno-scientific and utilitarian framework that raises ethical dilemmas in relation to autonomy, dignity, and the medicalization of life. This article aims to critically analyze discourses on the science of happiness from a bioethical perspective, identifying their ideological foundations, their articulation with the technological imperative, and their ethical and social implications. In doing so, it seeks not only to highlight the risks and limitations of this emerging field, but also to propose guidelines for its responsible implementation in public policy, clinical practice, and research environments.
Keywords: Bioethics. Happiness. Medicalization. Technological imperative. Autonomy. Dignity. Mental health.